Fleetwood Town FC | Highbury Stadium | Football Ground Guide Football Ground Guide Address: Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX Telephone: 01253 775080 Pitch Size: 112 x 74 yards Club Nickname: Cod Army Shirt Sponsors: BES Commercial Gas Kit Manufacturer: Puma Home Kit: Red and White Away Kit: Sky and Navy Blue Parkside Stand Looking Towards The Percy Ronson Terrace Highbury Stand WHAT IS THE HIGHBURY STADIUM LIKE? The stadium is modern having been completely re-built over the last five years, matching the teams' meteoric rise up the leagues with five promotions in seven seasons. The latest addition to the ground is the very impressive looking Parkside Stand which was first opened to spectators in March 2011. This 2,000 capacity all seated stand was a built at a cost of around £4m. It has a single tier of seating, whilst above are offices and a top row of executive boxes and hospitality area, all of which have a small tier of seating outside.

These are covered by a semi circular roof, with large glassed areas to either side which allow light to get to the pitch. At the front of this stand are the team dugouts. Opposite is the Highbury Stand, which is a small all-seated covered stand, which was opened in 2008. It is only six rows high, has a capacity of 550 and runs for only half the length of the pitch, meaning that there is a large open area next to it, although this area does feature some buildings. On the roof of the Highbury Stand is a small television gantry. For the 'eagle eyed' then directly behind it you can see a small roof which is the roof the old Main Stand which is still in existence having had the new stand built in front of it. It just shows how much the stadium has come on, when you consider that at one time there was this stand and not much else at the ground. Both ends are covered terraces, which are similar in size in terms of height. The Percy Ronson Terrace which is given to away supporters, runs for around 2/3rds of the width of the pitch.

Whilst the home end, the Memorial Stand (named in memory of the service and trawlermen who have previously lost their lives from the port of Fleetwood) is larger extending the full width of the pitch and housing just under 1,500 supporters. In one corner of the stadium beside the Percy Ronson Terrace (on the Highbury Stand side) is a large video screen. The stadium is completed with a set of modern floodlights. WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS? Away fans are mostly housed in the Percy Ronson terrace at one end of the stadium, where 831 fans can be accommodated. This terrace which was opened in 2007, is covered, free from supporting pillars and affords a good view of the playing action. The Club have recently improved the facilities in this area with a new snack bar and toliet block. The terrace capacity also includes an open flat standing area on the Highbury Stand side. The official capacities are 621 for the Percy Ronson Terrace and 210 for the Highbury side standing area. There is an away fans ticket office and programme booth situated outside the visiting supporters entrance.

Visiting supporters are also allocated 300 seats in the Parkside Stand and this can be increased if required. The facilities in this stand are far better than the terrace with alcoholic drinks available to purchase and there are large screens on the concourse showing Sky Sports. For teams with a smaller following then only the Parkside seats will be made available and not the Percy Ronson Terrace. PUBS FOR AWAY FANS There is Jim's Sports Bar at the ground, which normally admits away fans. The facilities in this bar are excellent, but get there early as it is bound to be very popular on matchdays. It is located at the back of the Memorial Stand and can be accessed from the park pathway that runs along that side of the ground. It is open from 12 noon on Saturdays and 5pm on matchday evenings and shows BT and Sky Sports on a large number of televisions. The Highbury Club which is located adjacent to the away turnstiles does not allow in visiting supporters. Martin Crimp a visiting Southport fan informs me; 'We were directed to the Queens Hotel, on Poulton Road, about a 15 minute walk away.

It has Sky Sports on multi screens along with a decent pint of Thwaites. Go up Highbury Avenue then left at the St Nicholas church into Poulton Road. The Queens is about 300 yards along this road on the left.' Otherwise it is probably best to take the 10-15 minute stroll into Fleetwood itself (on leaving the stadium entrance go up to the main road and turn left) where there are plenty of pubs to be found. My choice would be the Wetherspoon outlet the Thomas Drummond on London Street (off Lord Street). About the same distance away is the Strawberry Gardens pub on Poulton Road. This is owned by the local Fuzzy Duck brewery and features beers from that brewery as well as guest ales. It also provides food the catering for which is provided by Syd Little (of Little & Large fame) and his wife. On the seafront itself is the Mount Hotel, that benefits from showing live televised sports. These three pubs; the Thomas Drummond, the Mount Hotel and the Strawberry Gardens are all listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Alcohol is also available inside the stadium but only to away fans who have seating tickets in the Parkside Stand.

BLACKPOOL HOTELS & GUEST HOUSES - FIND AND BOOK YOURS & HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE If you require hotel accommodation in Blackpool then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com . They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going. DIRECTIONS AND CAR PARKING Leave the M6 at Junction 32 and take the M55 towards Blackpool. Then leave the M55 at Junction 3 and take the A585 towards Fleetwood. On the outskirts of Fleetwood you will come to a roundabout with Blackpool and Fylde college on your left. Continue straight on towards Fleetwood but after the roundabout take the first left into Copse Road. After about a mile and as you pass Fleetwood Fire station on your left then branch left and turn left onto to Radcliffe Road (going back on yourself but in parallel with Copse Road).

Then take the next right into Stanley Road and the stadium is at the bottom of this road on your left. There is no parking for away supporters at the stadium itself but there is plenty of street parking available in the area. Post Code for SAT NAV: FY7 6TX BY TRAIN There is no railway station in Fleetwood itself. The closest is at Poulton-le-Fylde, which is just over five miles away. However it is more likely that fans will head to Blackpool North station which is around seven miles away. A taxi from the station to Fleetwood will cost you the best part of £20, which may okay if there is a group of you. For smaller groups it may be better to catch a bus to Fleetwood, Service numbers 1 and 14, run from Blackpool. Jean Cox of Blackpool Transport informs me; 'When you come out of Blackpool North Station walk up to the main road which is Talbot Road and then walk down past Wilkinson’s store, cross the road at the Station Pub and then walk down to the bus stop outside Home Bargains. The line 14 is on the hour and then every 10 minutes to Fleetwood.

Or you can walk down to the Promenade. At the North Pier you will see the tram stop, at the end of the tram shelter there is a bus stop for the Line 1 which also goes to Fleetwood. Line 1 runs 12 minutes past the hour and then every 20 minutes. You can buy an unlimited day travel pass for £3.95 per adult'. If you have time on your hands and you fancy a trip along the sea front, then you could walk to the sea front in Blackpool and catch one of the new fleet of trams that were introduced in 2012. Services to Fleetwood run every 20 minutes and the journey takes around 40 minutes. The nearest stop to the ground is Stanley Road, which is around 200 yards from the stadium. Mark Cotterill a visiting Blackpool fan adds; 'Most away fans who go to Fleetwood by train will normally go via Preston, where you can change for Poulton-le-Fylde. You can then get either a number 80 or 82 bus to Fleetwood (the bus stop is directly opposite the station entrance). Which costs £5.50 return.

You can get off on Poulton Road right outside the Strawberry Gardens Pub (the ground is a 10-15 walk from the pub). The bus takes only 15-20 minutes. If you go from Blackpool North the bus takes 45 minutes and Tram around 50 minutes. A Bus timetable can be downloaded from the Lancashire County Council website (PDF document). Find train times, prices and book tickets with trainline. Booking tickets in advance will normally save you money! BOOK TRAIN TICKETS WITH TRAINLINE Remember if travelling by train then you can normally save on the cost of fares by booking in advance. Visit the the trainline website to see how much you can save on the price of train tickets.

Click on the trainline logo below: Parkside Stand: Adults £25, Over 65's/Under 18's £20, Under 16's £17, Under 5's Free** Highbury Stand: Adults £24, Over 65's/Under 18's £19, Under 16's £16*** Under 5's Free** Memorial Stand: Adults £23, Over 65's/Under 18's £18, Under 16's £15, Under 5's Free** Away Fans Parkside Stand: Adults £25, Over 65's/Under 18's £20, Under 16's £17, Under 5's Free** Percy Ronson Stand: Adults £23, Over 65's/Under 18's £18, Under 16's £15, Under 5's Free** * Home fans can get further discounts on these ticket prices (up to £5) by becoming a Club Member. ** When accompanied by a paying adult.

*** Under 16's can be admitted free to the Highbury Stand if they become a Club Member and are accompanied by a paying adult. 5,194 v York City League Two Play-Off Semi Final, 16th May 2014. Average Attendance Fleetwood Town v Oxford United Football League One Wednesday 17th August 2016, 7.45pm Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium? A new ground for me and, as a northern exile, an away game to get to. Plus early season after promotion. Feeling optimistic! How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? I journeyed from Sheffield by car and the Highbury Stadium was straightforward to find. Street parking is plentiful and given that Fleetwood are a smaller club, parking was no problem. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? There are no drinking venues in the vicinity and on a mid-week game, time is tighter. I had fish and chips nearby.

The sports bar facilities, which have been lauded in other reviews, were not available to away supporters for this game. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium? The Highbury Stadium is a compact ground with some decent updating. Fit for purpose for a smaller club. Away end had no obstructions for view. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Facilities were fairly average here and stewarding was friendly. Fleetwood Town dominated the game and were good value for a 2-0 win.. Oxford United were out thought/played all over the park. Very disappointing form our perspective. I would not be surprised seeing Fleetwood challenge for the play-offs this season. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Very straightforward and, as this was late on during the week, very welcome. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Another ground ticked off and nice to see Fleetwood whom seem to be a well managed club. Oxford will need to improve quickly.

Saturday 19th March 2016, 3pm Lee Mills (Barnsley fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium? I had never visited Fleetwood Town and it is always nice to tick another new ground off the list How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We travelled by car from Barnsley. We set off at 10am and arrived at 11:40. We parked on a street just behind the Main Stand. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? We went to Jims Sports Bar - It was a fantastic venue, with food served and away fan friendly. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium? I was in the away fans seating area in the Main Stand, located down one side of the ground. This by far the best stand at the ground. Behind each goal is terracing and the stand opposite is very small but neat and tidy. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The first half very dull and boring.

Even with over 1,000 Barnsley fans in attendance there wasn't much to shout about. In the second half Barnsley were much better and took the lead through a Fleetwood own goal. Josh Scowen scoring the second, seven minutes before time to secure the three points for us. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Brilliant. We were back on the motorway for 17:15 and home at 7pm. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: It was great day out, especially with the positive result. The sports bar at the ground has more televisions than Currys! They even have them in the toilets. I hope to visit again one day. Tuesday 15th March 2016, 7.45pm Thomas Inglis (Neutral Fan) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium? I live in Scotland and support Dundee United, but this to my 64th English ground visit. Also this was to be the first ground that I have gone to by tram. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Myself and the wife were staying in Blackpool for a short break.

The tram stopped right in front of our hotel so I just jumped on this for the 20 minute journey. There were a few other fans on the tram and they kept me right with which stop to get off. A five minute walk through a park and I was at the Highbury Stadium. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? I had a full meal in my Blackpool hotel before I left for this evening game, so when I got to the ground I just got myself a ticket. I then went into Jim's Bar for a pint and chatted to some Walsall fans who were convinced their team couldn't lose tonight. I then spoke to a couple of Fleetwood guys who were concerned that their team just can't score goals. Both sets of fans mingled freely in this bar and all seemed friendly. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium? The impressive Main Stand is the first thing that catches your eye with its semi circular roof. I had a walk along the terrace of the Memorial Stand (behind the goal) and there seemed to be good views from here with no obstructing pillars in any parts of the ground.

I then took my seat in the Highbury Stand near the halfway line. There was probably a couple of hundred Walsall fans behind the goal to my right in the Percy Ronson Stand. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Probably not the best of games, being decided by a quality goal from Walsall. The ball was played into Mantom who deceived the Fleetwood defenders with a cute backheel into the feet of the striker Bradshaw who fired high into the net from about 12 yards. The Fleetwod fans behind the goal tried to get a bit of singing going, along with a drummer. Walsall fans behind the other goal were in fine voice most of the game too. At half time the fans were allowed back in to Jim's Bar for refreshments. I just had a cup of tea to warm up from this cold night at the seaside. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: No problems in getting the tram back to my Blackpool hotel in time to see Tina Turner and Elvis Presley (on the same night, unbelievable!).

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: A good night out, probably the cold and the fact this was a rearranged fixture kept the crowd down to 2,569, Another ground visited though. Fleetwood Town v Doncaster Rovers Football League One Saturday 23rd January 2016, 3pm Jordan Halls (Doncaster Rovers) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium? This was the first chance of doing a double this season. Plus I fancied going to a ground that has a terrace. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? We travelled by supporters coach from Doncaster, so no issues there. However I would imagine that unless you have done your homework beforehand the ground might be easy to miss as you drive into town . What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? There was a chippy across the road from the away end, but it was absolutely packed so we decided not to go in there. There didn't seem to much else nearby. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?

Being a non league ground just a few years previous means that the Highbury Stadium is is rather small. The best part about it though is the rare chance to stand on a terrace.There is also a bit of a novelty with the old Highbury stand still standing behind the new one. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Even though the teams themselves weren't really entertaining (the game ended 0-0), us Rovers fans like to make an atmosphere away from home. The home fans put in a good effort considering their numbers. Not much choice in the snack bar and the prices were rather hefty, glad I took my own snack. Not much trouble with the stewards which was a welcome change. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: The coaches didn't have much choice but to park along the main road blocking off half the traffic off, but actually getting back to the coaches was easy as they were parked right outside the stadium. Once coaches set off it was easy to get out. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Was okay, could've been better if we could've taken more than a point, and if we'd have gone to Blackpool or somewhere beforehand.

Fleetwood Town v Burton Albion Football League One Saturday 17th October 2015, 3pm Tim Williams (Doing the 92) Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium? As I live in London then this was one of the more tricky grounds to get to. So I'd put it off until it came down to this and two others to complete the 92. Arriving outside the ground on a tram is a pretty unique experience and the journey north along the coast out of Blackpool is interesting and pleasant. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? The whole trip from London was varied to say the least. An early train from Euston got me into Preston by 9.30am and then I joined what seemed to be a party train full of Blackpool day trippers. I'd not been to Blackpool for years and had a few hours there before making my way to Fleetwood. Blackpool was great in a raw sort of way. People were drinking from early on and by the afternoon this was having an impact on the atmosphere around the place. The arrival of various stag and hen parties added to this.

I thought Alan Bennett should have been around somewhere to write a gritty northern play. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? I went straight to the Highbury Stadium. Fleetwood are not long out of non-league so everything seemed very friendly. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium? Although its non-league roots are still evident, Fleetwood's ground is impressive, particularly the Main Stand with its arched roof. I stood on the terrace behind the home goal and, with the steps being deep, the view was good. I was intrigued by the stand in front of an old stand arrangement opposite the Main Stand. If you look carefully at the photo below. Then you can just about see the roof of the old Main Stand behind the newer stand, that was built in front of it. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game was a bit of an upset. Fleetwood Town were towards the relegation places in the league while Burton were towards the top. So a 4-0 home win was unexpected. But Fleetwood were good value for their win.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting back to Preston and connecting for the London train was a challenge. To begin with, despite the recent non-league traditions of both teams, there was a it of unpleasantness on the tram back to Blackpool. One particularly vocal Fleetwood fan took it upon himself to wind the visitors up and they reacted in a predictable fashion. Fortunately it was swearing and threats rather than physical violence but it was a bit of a 1980's moment. So it was a tense set of passengers who arrived back in the now very lively Blackpool. But this was just the start of my problems. On Blackpool North station I joined the early leavers from the town - mainly families with children. The first train's doors failed so we were told to get off and join the train on the platform opposite - which pulled out of the station just as we approached it. Fortunately a third train departed shortly after but I needed this to run on time otherwise I'd be stranded at Preston. Luckily it did; I sat opposite two young mothers whose language was appalling and I kept wanting to tell them not to swear in front of their young children but didn't dare.

I managed to get the London train with a couple of minutes to spare and I'd advise anyone making this trip by train to give themselves plenty of time to make the connection. It's not good for the nerves otherwise. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: A memorable and very full day out. I loved Blackpool, the game was good and it's one of the more difficult to get to grounds ticked off Saturday 24th January 2015, 3pm Steve Herbert (Crawley Town fan) Why you were looking forward to going to Highbury Stadium? It's our longest league away trip of the season and it was a new stadium for me to visit. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Caught the train from London to Preston, 2hrs 10 mins. Then another train from Preston to Poulton about 25 mins. Finally taxi from Poulton to Fleetwood Town, 12 mins, about £16. Unfortunately Doctor Beeching closed railway the line to Fleetwood in 1963! What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Had a few drinks on the train up, so went straight into the stadium. There is a club bar behind the home end that admits both home & away fans though. What you thought on seeing Highbury Stadium, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? Nice ground considering like ourselves they have only recently come out of non league. Nice new Main Stand. Interesting you can still see their old Main Stand on the far side of the ground hidden behind a new stand. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Poor game, between two poor sides on the day. Fleetwood just edged it and won 1-0. Atmosphere was good as it always is following Crawley Town away. If your going to travel over 250 miles to an away game, you might as well empty your lungs once you get there! We sat in the Main Stand where we found the stewards to be friendly. It had decent catering facilities, where you could buy alcohol. They also show live Sky Sports matches on big tv screens on the concourse.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Fortunately I managed to get a lift back to Preston station from a fellow red and was on the train from there back in London by 8.25pm. No problems getting away from the ground after. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: All in all, good day out despite the result. Nice stadium, I look forward to traveling to Highbury again in the near future. Fleetwood Town v Bradford City League Two Friday, December 26th 2014, 3pm Paul Wilkinson (Bradford City fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): Nothing better than a Christmas fixture and with it being Boxing Day, even better! Bradford had sold their allocation of tickets, so the usual good away day atmosphere was to be expected. Also, the Bantams were unbeaten in eight matches and Fleetwood were also sitting comfortably in the league. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Good run across from sunny Yorkshire. Parked up easily very close to the ground which is kind of hidden in amongst the surrounding resident housing. 3.

What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? Went into Jim's Bar at the ground. It had more tv screens than Currys/Dixons. They even had them in the toilets! Away fans were made most welcome. We sat with three Fleetwood fans (who were also ardent Blackpool fans, so shared various football stories of yester years). The Bar staff were friendly. As we left we wished each other a Merry Christmas, with hand shakes! 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? Highbury Stadium is a very compact ground, with the fans close to the pitch. The Bradford fans were in one end terrace behind the goal, plus a section of seating to the right of the away end in the Main Stand. There were also visiting supporters standing to the left of the away terrace on one side. Fleetwood had given nearly double the normal away allocation. Bradford could have filled the ground themselves! 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Bradford started well but Fleetwood came into the game and had the better chances in the first half but couldn't finish.

City took the lead against the run of play in the 41st minute, through a James Hanson header at the back post. Had a rather expensive pie (same at Valley Parade but we always run out!) and a bovril at half time. Alas there is no alcohol available in the away end. The Stewards and other club officials very friendly and generally the atmosphere was good especially from the travelling Bantams, although I did hear 'Cod Army..' emanating from the home end at one stage. Early into the second half and Fleetwood came closer to equalising when they hit the post. With this let off, Bradford raised their game and started to dominate. Several chances were created, before a sweeping move and a lovely Billy Knott dummy across the goal, left Morais to slot home the second for the visitors. As it was Boxing Day, obviously 'jingle bells, jingle bells...' was bellowed out by the 1,300 plus City fans. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground was fairly easy as there were only 4,500 in attendance (which was way above their normal average home gate). 7.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: All in all, another excellent away day performance and experience for the following masses of Bantam fans. Credit to Fleetwood, a friendly family club with a very tidy and professional set up. I wish them all the best for the remaining season. Fleetwood Town v Southend United League Two Saturday, April 26th 2014, 3pm John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): I had never visited this ground and Fleetwood had guaranteed themselves at least a playoff position, with Southend needing a point to ensure a playoff place with one game left to play, so a good game was expected. Fleetwood is only 90 miles from where I live in North Wales as a Southend exiled fan so a comfortable journey for me compared to our home fans long trip from Essex . 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? My son and I travelled to the game by car along the M56, M6 and M55 following satnav. The trip was easy enough and took about two hours.

The ground was easy to find, and arriving early, we parked in the road adjacent to the ground entrance which has ample street parking. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? We had a reserved table in the Red and Whites diner within the Memorial Stand next to the popular Jims Bar. Being at the home of the Cod Army, so yes, we both opted for beer battered cod and chips with mushy peas, and the meal was excellent. The staff greeted us cheerfully, and the few home fans we met happily conversed whilst we waited to greet the Southend team arriving for the match. We then managed to get some of the Southend team to join in photographs as they entered the ground, including our Manager Phil Brown: 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? The ground is neat and compact, clean and smart. We had tickets for seats in the end of the modern Parkside Stand, which provided good seats with ample leg room. The stands behind each goal are standing terraces.

We opted to transfer to the standing area in the Percy Ronson stand behind the goal and from here you get a great view of the magnificent modern Parkside Stand. The views of the pitch are superb. The pitch was in great condition and a testament to the Fleetwood grounds man, who had been commended as the best in League 2. The quality of the pitch enabled both teams to play good football. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game was played in warm sunshine. The stewards were relaxed and helpful. The food outlets provided the usual choice of pies for £3 and hotdogs at £2. The Percy Ronson Stand was nearly full and the noisy Southend fans made for a good atmosphere. Fleetwood took the lead in the first half which lifted the home supporters but Southend managed a fairly quick equaliser in the first half and both teams seemed content with the point. The match program of 70 pages was £3 and a reasonable read. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: There was no delay in getting away from the ground and we relied on satnav to take us on the short motorways journey back to North Wales . 7.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: This was a good day out to a pleasant ground, with a result that left Fleetwood and Southend looking forward to the promotion playoffs and a chance to win at Wembley. Attendance 3,323 (500 + away) Fleetwood Town v Rochdale AFC League Two Saturday, April 6th 2013, 3pm Arthur Richardson (Rochdale fan) 1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): As Fleetwood are in their debut season in the Football League it was exciting to visit them for this Lancashire “derby” after hearing so much about their meteoric rise through non-league football. There are one or two ex Rochdale players on their books and it’s always good to see how they are getting on. Some of my partner’s family also originally come from Fleetwood, so she was excited to revisit the town to relive some of her nostalgic childhood memories of family visits there. After all the bitterly cold easterly winds and snow of recent weeks, it was a bright sunny day and perfect footballing weather with a very light breeze. 2.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? The journey from Rochdale is only 60 miles so it’s an “easy” away game in that respect. The sat nav took us straight to the ground where we arrived and found some street parking only two minutes walk from the main entrance. As we arrived about 2pm, this might have made the job of finding a parking space somewhat easier than it could have been later. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly? As usual the indispensible AA Good Pub Guide proved a valuable asset as we found a rather bizarre place about 19 miles from Fleetwood called Guys Thatched Village in Bilsbarrow, which had all sorts of oldie worldie shoppes, and a pub that did good food in huge portions. It’s right beside the Lancaster Canal, with an assortment on canal boats moored by the pub. Well worth a visit if you’re on the way to the match.

When we got to the ground, Jim Sport’s Bar was filled to the brim with home and away supporters getting on fine; so was a perfect setting for a couple of pints of Tetleys and the last 25 mins of the Reading v Southampton game on the 25 or so screens in there. I suppose I was the only one in the place really interested in seeing Saints win 2-0, Southampton being my home town! 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? The ground is compact and the view from the Parkside Stand where we were sitting was good. It is good to be close to the action in my view, and this proximity gave full value to a hard tackling game! The covered Percy Ronson Terrace was full of Rochdale fans and the acoustics were excellent. In fact I have not heard our fans in such good voice all season! The Parkside Stand is excellent and gives an indication of how the ground can be developed in the future, assuming their continued success and funding. 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was hard fought in midfield but I have to say that Rochdale dominated the match virtually from the first whistle and was one of their best performances that I’ve seen this season. Fleetwood, for a side pushing for the play-offs, were a bit disappointing and this is confirmed by their manager’s post match remarks that it was the worst he’d seen in 10 years. Maybe we were fortunate to encounter them on what was clearly an off day for them but is was pleasing to see us converting dominance into goals, something lacking in our performances of late. The stewards were friendly and helpful and very nicely ejected one of our fans who had clearly had one too many and was becoming a danger to himself. Done with smiles and shrugs; the sort of stewarding you want to see. Having eaten that “huge” pub lunch, I was in no position to sample the pies, but the facilities throughout were excellent with really friendly staff who did make you feel welcome. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Getting away from the ground was no problem at all and we were home in just over an hour, leaving the cries of the Fleetwood seagulls lamenting, no doubt, the result. 7.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: A really pleasant day out. The trip from the Pennines to the Irish Sea was problem free, the weather almost Spring like and the result, one that has probably secured us in League Two for another season. It looks like Fleetwood won’t make the play-offs now so I look forward to returning next year (all being well). Fleetwood Town v Exeter City League Two Saturday, March 9th 2013, 3pm Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan) 1.Why were you looking forward to going to this ground? This venue, as it has been for most League Two supporters is a new stadium to tick off, and also with both teams having play off and promotion hopes the fixture was massive. 2. How easy was your journey, what did you do before the game, pub/chippy? Travelling with the supporters club by coach the trip was easy, leaving at 7am arriving at the ground just after 1pm. On arrival, some went to the Strawberry Gardens pub which does feature in the CAMRA good beer guide, whilst others including myself opted to go to Jims bar which is the club house attached to the ground.

Inside it was very spacious, clean, comfy and drinks were averagely priced. There was also a choice of 25 screens showing either the Sky early kick off match or Sky Sports News. With that many screens you can't go wrong. There was also a good mix of home and away fans and the home fans that I encountered were friendly. On arrival I had also purchased a match day programme for £3 which i have found to be a good read, as unlike some programmes I have come across there were relatively few adverts. 3. What were your thoughts on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium? My first thoughts on seeing the ground were impressive for a small club in their debut league season. I opted to sit in the Parkside Stand, which is the newest addition to the stadium. It was a good view of the game from this area. The other stands are small and in time will need work done if they are to stay in the league. 4. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments, toilets? The game itself was competitive and with both teams pushing for a play off spot but unfortunately neither team could find that break, ending in a scoreless draw.

The atmosphere was excellent though, with good natured banter flowing between both sets of supporters, stewards were helpful and unobtrusive. The refreshments were averagely priced with a good range of food and drink,, there is also a licenced bar which only had Carlsberg on tap priced at £3.50 a pint. Toilets also clean. Comment on getting away after the game? Getting away afterwards was easy as the coach was parked just behind the East Stand. It took about 20 minutes to leave the stadium and get through the town before getting onto the motorway, leaving just after 5pm, back home at 11.00pm Summary and overall thoughts of day out? A great away day with friendly home fans, a good pub, new stadium, just a shame on the final score but still a good atmosphere on the journey home. Fleetwood Town v York City League Two Saturday, December 29th 2012, 3pm James Prentice (Doing The 92) 1.

Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): I had originally been looking at going to either Stevenage or Colchester on my next step towards completing the 92, but a combination of postponements and a hastily-arranged family gathering in the evening meant it would be easier to go somewhere in the north of the country. This really only left me with Fleetwood Town so I set off for the long drive to the Fylde cost. 2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? My journey up from Lincoln seemed pretty effortless once I had hit the M62, and despite the rain lashing down Radio 5 Live confirmed that the game was on. I used directions from this website to find the ground and managed to park up barely five minutes’ walk away. There is lots of on-street parking, although upon entering Fleetwood I had to go past a tram line, cross it at the traffic lights and then drive past it as if I was going back on myself, which one of the stranger things I have seen on my travels. 3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

I went and purchased my ticket from a booth just outside the shiny new Main Stand. I could not see that there were any cash-only turnstiles and fans might like to note that tickets are also available from outside the Memorial Terrace (home end) and the away fans’ entrance to the Percy Ronson Terrace. After having a quick look around I realised how hungry I was and went for a fish supper at the Highbury Chippy (a mentioned on this website). The fish was excellent, although how they can claim to serve ‘traditional fish and chips’ yet in turn provide customers with American-style fries is beyond me! I was going to go for a quick pint in Jim’s Sports Bar but with the game about to start I made my way into the ground. A lot of the home, and away, fans seemed pretty friendly, with both seemingly still on a high after winning promotion from the Conference in May. 4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? I took my place on the Memorial Terrace, which offered a really good view of the action, just in time for kick off.

This is the home fans’ stronghold and opposite us was the smaller Percy Ronson Terrace, which housed the York fans who to their great credit had travelled in numbers for the clash. The side of the ground to my right housed a small family stand one side of the halfway line and a clubhouse with a small flat standing area on the other, which is a real reminder of Fleetwood’s non-league history. The new Main Stand on the other side is not particularly large but is sleek in design and houses a large selection of hospitality boxes for a League Two club! 5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc... The atmosphere was quite subdued given that York started bullishly and had some good chances throughout the game. Fleetwood on the other hand managed little and seemed out of sorts – just one of those days I guess with some perhaps suffering from post-Christmas malaise. The stewards themselves were very friendly, although upon entering I was jokingly asked whether I was a York fan – I think I immediately put on a completely duff Lancashire accent and probably sounded Indian!

Fans on the Memorial Terrace have use of the toilets and facilities in Jim’s Sports Bar throughout the game, which meant a long procession of people just before half time and surely lots of cash in the till for Fleetwood. The food on offer was some of the most reasonable I have seen and there was a ‘drinks only’ queue as well as one for food, which helped serve people quickly, while the staff seemed helpful and switched on unlike at many other venues. The only grumble I have was that some of the Fleetwood fans seem to forget that they were playing in the North West Counties’ League just a few years ago, as some of their whinging at a disappointing performance was uncalled for. Sadly, many fans in Leagues One and Two these days seem to expect Premier League-standard football from lower league players. 6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: I made a run for it as soon as the game ended so I could beat the traffic, a plan which came off brilliantly as I was back on the main road and speeding home in no time. The streets around the ground are pretty cramped so I would recommend a hasty retreat unless you fancy hanging around afterwards until the traffic dies down. 7.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Overall, a good day out and nice to complete another league ground. The football was disappointing but Fleetwood seems like a nice enough little place and is doing well to hold their own in League Two, especially with bigger clubs not far away. Having only been there for a few hours on a grey December day, however, I don’t think I have seen the best of the town so if I do return at any point I will aim for an August game so I can stay for the weekend by the seaside. Highbury Stadium Guide - Fleetwood Town | Football Tripper Stadium Guide History Fleetwood Town first moved to their current Highbury Stadium at the start of the Second World War in 1939, after previously playing on a pitch located next to North Euston Hotel. Not to be confused with Arsenal Stadium which was commonly referred to as Highbury, Fleetwood Town’s ground inherited its name from the nearby Highbury Avenue on which it sits on. A relatively small club compared to neighbours Blackpool today, the club sought to move to a larger ground after winning three consecutive Lancashire Combination Cups.

Representing a period of the club’s most successful years, Fleetwood moved to a higher quality pitch located next to Memorial Park hoping that the club could sustain its level of early achievements. Unfortunately, the quality of the matchday experience declined somewhat and the club never were able to build on their early successes. Between 1948 and 1952 Highbury became used for Motorcycle Speedway competitions, and thus a track encircled the perimeter of the pitch. This greatly reduced the intimacy of the arena, and sight-lines available from the terraces which were then known as “Scratching Sheds”. This left the original Highbury Stadium with an unfortunate legacy, and it wasn’t until 2008 when the new West stand was constructed that the last remaining trace of the Speedway Track had been removed. Reportedly builders had to excavate over 5,000 tonnes of material, but it ultimately proved worth it after proximity to the pitch was achieved across all four stands. This redevelopment came as part of a three phase stadium plan which Fleetwood Town announced on the 31st July 2007.

The first and second phases saw the construction of new goal-end terraces for the north and south, and the third phase saw the addition of the new marque main stand. Costing £2 million pounds in total, the creation of the Percy Ronson Terrace in 2007 remarkably represented the first new stand to be constructed at Highbury since 1939. Seating Plan Below is a seating plan of Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium: Stands Fleetwood’s Highbury has four stands: The Memorial Stand (North), The Parkside Stand (East) which is the main stand , The Percy Ronson Stand (South) which is all terracing, and Highbury Stand (West) behind Highbury Avenue. Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the stadium. The Matchday Experience Away Fans Away fans are housed in both the Parkside Stand (seating) and the Percy Robson Stand (standing), with the sections of the stands effectively constituting the north-west corner of the ground.

The modern terrace is capable accommodating 621 fans, whilst the less popular seating area has room for 210 visitor although it’s still good to offer people the choice. Away tickets can either be purchased from the visiting club’s website or on the day of the match providing tickets are still available, and you’re happy paying slightly more. Be warned that the turnstiles are automated which means you can’t purchase a ticket there, you need to go to the ticket office located near the away entrance. Parkside (Away Seating) Under 5: free Best Pubs At the stadium there is the informal sounding “Jim’s Bar” which is purpose-built and opened in October 2008 with both sets of fans allowed to mingle before and after the game. The entrance is located down the alleyway at the rear of the memorial stand, with the bar stocking a large range of draught and bottled beers with occasional special offers. Jim’s Kitchen also serves a decent range of hot and cold food with the bar boasting no less than 17 televisions and a free to use cash machine within.

Food They’re not called the cod army for nothing and towards the southwest corner of the stadium on Hatfield Avenue is the popular “Highbury Chippy” which serves fish and chips with a McDonalds and Asda Supermarket located near the end of the Amounderness Way, 5-10 minutes north-east of the stadium. Inside the stadium there are numerous kiosks selling the typical range of hot food and cold drinks, in addition to the Red & Whites restaurants. Club Shop The Fisherman operate a club shop at Highbury in addition to their own official online site, Highbury Store . The opening times for store at the ground are as follows: Monday – Friday: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Tuesday Matchdays: 9.00 am to kick-off Saturday Matchdays: 9.00 am to kick-off Sundays: closed A picture showing the Fleetwood Town club shop. For more information and confirmation of opening times feel free to phone the store on 01253 775080 or send an email to info@fleetwoodtownfc.com.

Stadium Tour It doesn’t appear as if Fleetwood Town FC currently offer fans the chance to undertake a stadium tour of Highbury Stadium (Fleetwood). If this changes, we’ll be sure to update this section. Ticket Prices Tickets to see Fleetwood play at home can be purchased via the usual channels such as at the ticket office in the BES Parkside Stand Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, via telephone 01253 775080 or on the internet from Fleetwood Town’s Online Box Office . The club encourage fans to book in advance via offering a small discount on tickets of a few pounds compared to if you were to buy an equivalent ticket on the same day. Ticket Prices for League One: Parkside Under 5: free Matchday Travel Highbury Stadium is located on the Fylde Peninsula 8 miles north of Blackpool surrounded by the Irish Sea to the west, Morecambe Bay to the North and the River Wyre to the east. The town of Fleetwood is located in Lancashire, north-west England. Welcome to Fleetwood.

Train Technically the closest station is Poulton Le Fylde but Blackpool North is much more convenient and located only slightly further away at a distance of with 7.5 miles versus 6.5. As the larger train station there are better range of transport options to get to the ground starting with the taxi rank outside. The cabs can fit up to 6 people with a journey costing just under £20 with a duration of 25 minutes. This may be suitable if there are 4-5 of you or if there are other fans you can group up with otherwise, the options below are probably a better bet. Tram Exit Blackpool North station and follow Talbot Road to the sea. Turn left on the Promenade and you should be able to see The North Pier tram stop. Costing just £2.50 with a journey time of around 40 minutes, the frequency of trams is around 3 per hour with the stop at the ground known as Stanley Road which is just past the Fleetwood Fire Station.

Admittedly this is quite a slow method of getting to the ground but with the walking off the cards due to the distance exceeding 6 miles, this isn’t that bad – it’s certainly scenic! Bus Buses number 14 and 1 in the direction of Fleetwood can take you pretty close to the stadium with a journey time of around 30 minutes and a far of £2.50. Driving Highbury Stadium’s Address for satnav is as follows: Park Avenue, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6SP. Fleetwood Fans after gaining promotion! Car Parks There isn’t a dedicated car park at the stadium save for the club and disabled fans, with Fleetwood Town encouraging street parking on surrounding roads. Hotels With the exception of the Broadwater Caravan Park when looking for a hotel in Fleetwood you should always be looking at the northern part of the Fylde Peninsula with the North Euston Hotel being the pick of the limited bunch. You can also look for hotels around Blackpool. By Football Tripper

Question: Which English Football League club play their home games at Highbury Stadium?
Answer: Fleetwood Town FC